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solar powered anchor light

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Johnnybob
1st Mate

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32 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/25/2013 : 04:35:20

Hello Everybody, I want to install or use a simple inexpensive solar powered light to illuminate my boat in the mooring field. It looks like some of my neighbors hoist a simple "garden light" from Home Depot or Lowes. This seems like an easy way to go but the lights I've seen don't seem very bright. Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated.
Happy Thanksgiving

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2013 : 05:04:26

John,
One option is to install a simple trickle charger solar panel.
Hook that up to your system and you can use your existing anchor light.

If I were leaving JD on a Mooring for more than the odd night or two, I would consider installing a automatic switch to turn the light on at night.

Paul

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 11/27/2013 : 11:25:44

Your post raises two issues. First is the question of whether boats are required by law to display an anchor light at night in your mooring field. The answer to that question depends on where the mooring field is located. The general rule is: "When in Inland Waters inside of the Colregs demarcation lines {shown on coastal charts as magenta colored dashed lines} a vessel does not have to display an anchor light from dusk until dawn if it is in a “Special Anchorage” (clearly marked on the chart as such). However, there are no “Special Anchorages” in International Waters (outside of the Colregs demarcation lines) International Rules clearly state an anchored vessel MUST display an approved anchor light from dusk until dawn while anchored or moored."

The second issue has to do with whether a solar "garden light" is adequate to illuminate your boat at night in a designated mooring field. Since no light is required by law, it is certainly legally adequate. As long as it meets all legal requirements, then anything you do beyond that is strictly voluntary. I bought a light like that at the boat show a few years ago, and attach it to my stern rail when cruising, just as a little added safety factor. I agree that they aren't very bright, but on a dark night, almost any light stands out fairly well. If I kept my boat in an inland mooring field, where anchor lights are not required, I would feel comfortable having one. The reality is that, even if your boat was brightly illuminated, it still wouldn't protect it from a drunk in a Sea Ray.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2013 : 10:51:17

I have always found masthead anchor lights to be woefully inadequate for identifying a boat at rest. If you are far away you can notice a masthead light easily but if you are close up to a boat on a moonless night, or in a fog, your attention is not thirty feet (or more) up. I was leaving an anchorage early one morning, just before dawn, and came up rather close to a large sailboat who was properly lit but since the light was up so high I did not see the boat until almost on it. I think even if you use a masthead light, a lantern or light of some type high on deck makes the boat much more visible. In a mooring field that may be a better and less costly alternative than a solar masthead anchor light which will not be required in that situation.

Edited by - Sloop Smitten on 11/28/2013 10:51:43

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4025 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2013 : 13:49:24

For added security I have a Davis Utility Mega Light#153; that you simply plug into a cigarette lighter socket. Hang it over the boom and it will light up the entire topsides. Makes the boat very visable in a moring field. It has a long cord and uses very little power. Also useful as a cocpit light or anywhere else you might think of. Found at West Marine.

White light turns on when needed
Utility Mega Light#153; #153;
Low consumption (0.110A) portable waterproof anchor or cockpit light with a built-in photo cell that automatically senses dusk and dawn.

Utility Mega Light#153;
Suspends easily from boom, awning or grabrail. Includes a dual-function fresnel lens, automatic switching on at dusk and off at dawn, and two bayonet-style lamps: a high-efficiency 0.110A lamp that's visible 2nm and a 0.320A bright light. Includes a heavy-duty 15' cord, 12V lighter plug and adjustable hanging bracket.

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Johnnybob
1st Mate

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32 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2013 : 12:04:42

Thank you gentlemen for your thoughts. All good information. Scott I like the look of the Mega Light with the photo cell. I believe that answers all concerns. Scott I see you sail out of Glenn Cove NY say hi to Christopher Ercole if you know him he also sails out of Glenn Cove. I made him an offer on his 30' Sabre last year. As is common with me I was a day late.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5417 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2013 : 22:29:35

I found a white LED 2 nautical mile (2nm) light on sale for $10 at West Marine that uses a two-contact bayonet socket I got at the auto parts store.

I rigged a phototransistor and a switching transitor in a circuit with a 30 foot cable leading to a cigarette lighter plug, and I added a hook to connect it to a burgee halyard. If anyone is interested in the circuit schematic, please email me.

I don't raise the light up to the mast head - that's too high, but I hoist it up to the spreaders. Normally the light will swing along with the motion of the boat and being a legal navigation light, it's plenty bright and obvious at night.

It takes about 1/2 a watt (50 mA), so it hardly dents the battery charge all week long. My solar panel more than makes up for it.

I also have a garden spotlight shining in the cabin at night. The base fits nicely into the winch handle hole on my deck winch.

Edited by - on

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2014 : 12:42:27

My masthead light is not working but not sure if it is a big issue.

Question: If the mooring field is owned by a private marina and they do not require you to keep your nav. lights on, are you still required to have them on? Been there for five years and no one has said a thing. My boat is in on the inside of the field in any case, so a person would have to smash into many boats before they got to mine.

When I am on a public mooring at night or at anchor I usually hoist one of these in my spreaders. Not a legal nav. light per se, but it should keep people from smashing into me. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200461055_200461055

Vern Wright

Hajime

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2014 : 14:38:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ruachwrights
 My masthead light is not working but not sure if it is a big issue.

Question: If the mooring field is owned by a private marina and they do not require you to keep your nav. lights on, are you still required to have them on?...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Regardless of who "owns" the moorings (the waters are public, so ownership might be questionable -- "maintains" might be more appropriate), you must always, at minimum, obey USCG NAVREGs (unless you're on an inland lake). Look up your mooring field on the NOAA chart and see if the anchorage area is bordered with a magenta dotted line and says something like, "SPECIAL ANCH." It should also refer to a note on the chart, or have a regulation number. The one near me refers to [url="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2013-title33-vol1/xml/CFR-2013-title33-vol1-sec110-1.xml"]Federal Code Title 33 110.1-110.76[/url], which says:
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">(a) The areas described in subpart A of this part are designated as special anchorage areas for purposes of 33 U.S.C. §§ 2030(g) and 2035(j). Vessels of less than 20 meters in length, and barges, canal boats, scows, or other nondescript craft, are not required to sound signals required by rule 35 of the Inland Navigation Rules (33 U.S.C. 2035). Vessels of less than 20 meters are not required to exhibit anchor lights or shapes required by rule 30 of the Inland Navigation Rules (33 U.S.C. 2030).<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

So my advice would be just look it up. If you're not in a special anchorage area, you probably need lights.

Edited by - TakeFive on 02/03/2014 14:40:47

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